Archives: News
Expanded March Boutique Brings an Individual Shopping Experience to Briarcliff Manor
Briarcliff Manor, NY – Note to all fashionistas: No need to panic at the empty space where Briarcliff Manor’s March Boutique once stood.
6 Reasons For You To Love Small Businesses
According to a 2012 Public Affairs Pulse Survey, 88% of adults interviewed have a favorable view of small businesses. Only 16% said the same about major corporations.
Below are six reasons for you to love small businesses and continue to support small business owners in every way possible:
1. Small Business Owners Work Tirelessly
Entrepreneurs and small business owners are used to working long hours. The latest SMB Wellness Index from Manta found that small business owners are working longer hours than they have in the past.
Step Into Spring At Westport’s Bianca Boutique
Westport, CT – Spring fashions are in bloom at Westport’s Bianca Boutique, a high-end woman’s clothing and accessories shop that recently opened at 420 Post Road W.
Owner and Westport mom Maria Casabianca says the shop — formerly called SOMA Boutique — carries a variety of designers that aren’t found elsewhere in town.
“We’re definitely more like a boutique you’d find in Manhattan in terms of the style of clothing we offer and our personalized service,” she said. “Here, you’ll find classic clothing with a twist.”
Dallas Market Center Announces The Next Big Give Winners
Dallas Market Center today announced the two winners for The Next Big Give, the third annual national search for specialty retailers that make a difference in their communities through volunteering, raising funds or donating goods.
The winners were announced during a filmed video broadcast that can be viewed here. The winners are: Journeys of Life, a gifts and accessories store in Pittsburgh, Penn.; and Leon & Lulu, a furniture, gifts and accessories store in Clawson, Mich.
Robyn’s Sweet Boutique Gives Manalapan a Sugar Rush
Manalapan, NJ – Manalapan Township just got a little bit sweeter with the opening of Robyn’s Sweet Boutique, a new retail store specializing in homemade chocolate goodies and candy.
Located within the Galleria Shopping Center on Route 9 North, Robyn’s Sweet Boutique offers more than just the owner’s signature hand-dipped chocolate covered pretzels. All chocolate confections are made on the premises and are original creations of Robyn Stern, the owner of the store. Several of her imaginative creations include a cinnamon sugar pretzels and a peanut butter truffle crunch.
New Fishers Boutique Offers Outlet for Stay-at-Home Artisans
Fishers, IN – Nearly all of Danielle “Danie” Leever’s vendors at “Best of What’s Around, a new Fishers boutique, are stay-at-home moms with an artistic side.
Leever opened the unique Main Street business last week, a venture that stems from her own creative niche of refurbishing cast-off furniture.
“These are women who have a craft, a creative bug that they want to get out,” said Leever, 36.
Brewster Home Fashions Named 2012 Vendor of the Year by Sherwin-Williams
Brewster Home Fashions was named Vendor of the Year at Sherwin-Williams’s annual Vendor of the Year ceremony, held at the Paint Stores Group 2013 National Sales Meeting in Nashville on January 29. Brewster was one of only six companies honored, and the only one in the wallcovering category.
SnapRetail Rings in The New Year With Promotions
Eight SnapRetail employees welcomed in the new year with recent promotions, while the company continues to experience other successes.
Suzy Teele, formerly SnapRetail’s chief marketing officer, is now the first chief operating officer at SnapRetail.
Sewn to the Sky Participates in First Cash Mob Event
River City, TN – A few days before applications for Project: PopUp, were due, artist and former teacher Carrie Pendergrass woke up in the middle of the night with a business idea.
“It was really strange, actually,” she said. “I was really ready for a change, and I had been thinking about a business in the back of my head for years and years. It was always something I thought, ‘If I’m able to do it, it will be when I’m a lot older,'” the 38-year-old said.
Now, she has her own business—Sewn to the Sky, which offers handmade gifts, mainly from local artists.
W. Ind. Candy Store Finds Gluten-Free Niche
Dana, IN – Sweet, smooth and chunky, the candy creations available at Brooke’s Candy Co. in the tiny Vermillion County town of Dana have been boxed with Valentine’s Day in mind.
Candy-makers Brooke Schmidt and her mother, Donna Thompson, operate the candy shop in the 1900s plantation-style home where Brooke grew up in downtown Dana.
They opened the business in 2007, and they have been designated as artisan candy-makers by the Indiana Artisan organization.
Boutique Adds ‘Flair’ to Morgantown
Morgantown, WV – Spring is rapidly approaching, and women of Morgantown often cannot find the time to rush to the mall and pick up their accessories for the new season.
However, Flair, a new boutique in Suncrest, is here to help.
Jane V. Jewelers has now expanded itself with the new addition of the boutique.
The two stores are connected, so customers can have the luxury of fine jewelry as well as the convenience of costume jewelry.
“We have costume jewelry, silver jewelry, purses, scarves, wallets and a lot of WVU items,” said Donna Semon, Flair sales clerk.
Fun and Laughter Aim of Perham’s New Toy Store
Perham, MN – Perham is in for play-filled hours of fun and laughter when Goose Gang opens in May.
Goose Gang, under construction on Third Avenue, will contain a candy shop, frozen yogurt and a mountain of toys of all kinds.
Specialty Oil Shop Plans New Location in Ramsey
Ramsey, NJ – Specialty oils and balsamic vinegars are coming to Ramsey.
Paul Karoyan, the owner of Olive Branch & Grape Vine in Westwood says he is planning to open his second location on E. Main Street in Ramsey this spring. The new shop will replace Lolo’s Sweets & Sundries, which closed in August.
Karoyan, a Waldwick resident who has been in the finance and banking industry for 20 years, said he opened his first shop last year after adding specialty olive oils and balsamic vinegars to his diet.
Indiana Artisan Marketplace to Showcase Locally Made Art, Food New Must-See Event Returns for Third Year
From mosaics and marshmallows to watercolors and wines, the Indiana Artisan Marketplace features one-of-a-kind handmade work by more than 200 artisans.
The 2013 Indiana Artisan Marketplace will take place April 6-7 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Expo Hall.
Los Angeles International Textile Show Announces New Partnership With Stylesight
The Los Angeles International Textile Show (LA TEXTILE) is pleased to announce its newly minted partnership with prominent fashion trend analyzer and forecaster Stylesight. Stylesight is the industry-leading content and technology solution for professionals in the style, fashion and design sectors.
Local Pottery Business Gets Atlantic Honour
Borden-Carleton, PEI – From Tignish to Texas, you can find Cindy and Darryl Lentz’s products on shelves.
The couple’s Borden-Carleton business, Right Off the Batt Pottery, has caught on all across North America, with more than 70 retailers continent-wide.
And now they’re receiving some accolades a little closer to home.
The pair was named the recipients of the Excellence in Product Design award at the 16th annual Atlantic Canada Craft Awards for Excellence in Halifax earlier this month.
10 Business Startup Tips From Shop Local Maven
Palm Harbor, FL – Ester Venouziou is an accidental business owner. The viral popularity of her “buy local” Facebook page convinced Venouziou to turn Local Shops1 into a business.
Fast forward five years. LocalShops1 is the leading membership-driven small business advocacy collective in the Tampa Bay region.
Small businesses get help with promotion, and shoppers get a nifty discount card as well as invitations to special events.
There is Always Something New at KK’s Craft & Gift Mall
Lubbock, TX – The vendors at KK’s have come up with a great idea – a “Ladies Night Out!”
The first one will be this Wednesday night, February 13, 2013 from 6 until 8 p.m. Vendors will be in their booths visiting, giving out samples, demonstrations, snacks, discount coupons, one-night-only sale prices and many more special treats. The tea room will also be open with a special discounted menu just for the evening. This is a good chance to bring your husband or a bunch of the girls for a night out!
Chamber’s ‘Cash Mobs’ Bringing Customers to Highway 101
Solana Beach, CA – It’s been a rough road for businesses along Highway 101 in Solana Beach because of ongoing construction to renovate the area, but monthly events designed to draw customers to local shops are helping to ease some of the hardships.
The events, called “cash mobs,” were started by the city’s Chamber of Commerce to help businesses affected by the slow economy and ongoing construction.
The Highway 101 project aims to upgrade the west side of the coastal highway from Dahlia to Cliff streets with new sidewalks, decorative lighting and street furniture, additio
A Chocolate Dream in Belmont Center Still Going Strong
Belmont, MA – It’s been 17 years since Belmont’s local sweet shop, A Chocolate Dream, first opened and there are a few people that are surprised it survived at all.
“We had a couple of customers say that a candy store would never make it here,” said co-owner Mary Nielsen. “That got us a little nervous.
“There weren’t that many stores around that sold fine chocolates and we wanted to specialize in nicer chocolates,” Nielsen said about why she and her daughter Vicki Frassici, also a co-owner, wanted to open A Chocolate Dream.